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NSW Police take delivery of Hemi-powered Chrysler 300

NSW Police has taken delivery of its first Chrysler 300 SRT, a V8-powered sedan tipped to succeed Holden's Commodore SS as the regular ride for highway patrol units.

There's only one car for now, and it is officially a community engagement vehicle set to be used at car shows, sporting events and other displays where police interact with the public.

But motorists should get used to the sight of Chrysler's 6.4-litre V8-powered machine, as its FCA parent company is pushing hard to win lucrative contracts with Australian police forces.

Setting aside one-offs such as display-only European sports cars and the tuned FPV GT Falcon built for NSW Highway Patrol, the 350kW machine would be the most powerful fleet vehicle in Australian police history.

FCA is on the record saying it has been in talks with police over the supply of highway patrol cars in NSW. One car dealer told Drive it is "a done deal", and that the cars will be appearing in growing numbers in coming years.

Government departments such as the police have historically been required to use Australian-built vehicles where possible, but that will change when Australian automotive manufacturing comes to a halt in October.

Ben Boyd | 23 May 2017 06:11

Vicness Ben Boyd | 23 May 2017 09:28

Vicness Vicness | 23 May 2017 09:28

Gary Quinlan | 23 May 2017 07:01

Better still give them Nismo GT-Rs. Even quicker and they can also handle corners!

Titan | 23 May 2017 07:06

Yes, that's now two cars they've sold this month!

sabashahid | 23 May 2017 07:33

That is one good looking car and any officer of the law will be honored to ride it thank you for this gift.
http://www.mobile-phone.pk/

Sidney Mincing | 23 May 2017 08:27

Good choice, far better than any high revving Asian rubbish, plenty of room for hefty coppers and all their gear, plus a crim or three in the back. Can't beat cubes.

Steve 0 | 23 May 2017 11:05

The Chrysler looks mean. WRX looks like a girls car!

Mr Majestyk | 23 May 2017 11:32

Oh god no, the pimp mobile rides again, fat, ugly and poor handling, and so typical of Amuuurica. They'll probably even kill the only good thing about the car, the glorious exhaust note.

GARRY CROWHURST | 23 May 2017 12:49

The 300 SRT Core is the perfect choice for all our state police HWP chasers. They are built on the same platform the Dodge Charger 4 door which is the most popular popular choice of patrol car in USA.
They are safe and usable size, powerful V8 engine, bullet proof transmissions, superb handling for a car this size, loaded with safety features and a meaningful appearance.
FCA can have the Core (base) model spec'd up a the factory with the wiring harnesses, wheels, tyres, underbody protection, interior fitout suitable for police use, etc as they have all the templates and experience already in place in USA.
If volume purchase is the key to a lower price per unit, the Chrysler 300 C V6 would be a great choice for the PD car fleets, along with the usual array of assorted SUV's, light trucks (paddy wagons) and station wagons.
Great decision if it gets the formal thumbs up!

Boo | 23 May 2017 13:21

As far as I'm aware no police departments in the USA use this vehicle despite its long time presence there. US police use the Dodge Charger, so I assume it is more of a performance vehicle as the 300 was more intended as a luxury car. A real compromise; might be good for the high speed medical runs the HWP do but not so much pursuits.

Grumbles | 23 May 2017 13:22

Not bad. Better than some little ricer. Nice V8 and roomy enough.

Brian of Narangba | 23 May 2017 19:49

Volvo S60 Turbo as used in many Euro countries would be a better choice

Redgwagon | 23 May 2017 22:13

I hope they are in the NRMA because they are going to need it. Useless piece of shiite that the yanks have dredged up from the 60s. On the bright side there will be a lot less people booked because the cars will spend more time in the garage than on the road.

Rat Patrol | 23 May 2017 22:42

The level of ignorance being displayed by some posters on this topic is only matched by some of the ludicrous suggestions.
As stated, the Charger is the prefered platform for most US PDs. The Charger is also 100kg heavier than the 300. The 300 is also built in far lower numbers than the Charger in the US - in fact it was the lowest selling of the LX platform cars and has now been discontinued in the US - that is the ONLY reason its not used - Dodge have trqaditionally met the fleet sales demand.
The 300 is raced in the SCCA. It is also used in diesel form by European PDs under the Lancia badge. As a police interceptor, the 6.4 SRT far outstrips the SS Dunnydoor in terms of straight line performance. As far as cornering, it is vastly superior to the base model 300 and = Ford/GM products and only significantly more expensive euro V8s perform better in the three critical areas.
And as for the suggestions on using rice burners.... where do you propose the drunk drivers get stowed?

ygo | 24 May 2017 04:10

So the trick will be to find the nearest gradual bend if you're being pursued.

Ian Smith | 24 May 2017 04:52

.. obviously FiatC have done something (maybe done something?) with the brakes, as every 4 door sedan tested by the various forces here (and some 2 door) since Ford and Holden announced no more cars to be made here.... have failed the required brake/braking tests

Rockmaninoff | 24 May 2017 21:13

This is a great car but I hope they adopt something with better fuel econony. Chrysler has cylinder deactivation but it's still not good enough. With pursuits becoming less common, the Pentastar V6 would be good if they need the space. Better yet would be a car with a 3L turbo or something similar. We're talking about cars for cops here... not stoplight racers.

Unknown | 26 May 2017 16:59

Waste of money. Big cars for stupod people, and this will make them more stupid in their glorified emptiness. If yoi are serious, you get proper handling cars, nor big block gas guzzlers.
Just shows the stupod people that run the police in the first place.